FR2638136A1 - MACHINE FOR WETTING A COVER FOR FIXING ON A COMPLETED BASIS, FOR EXAMPLE OF A PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT - Google Patents

Abstract

There is described a machine for wetting a cover 2 to be fixed on a base 3 filled, for example, with a pharmaceutical product. The main characteristic of the present invention is based on the fact that it comprises first means 5 rotating about a machine axis and serving to remove a cover 2 from an opening 9 in a feed hopper, and second means 6 serving to wet an edge 86 of a cover 2 carried by the first means 5 with a liquid which allows the sealed fixing of the cover 2 on the base 3.

Description

Machine for wetting a lid to be fixed on a filled base, by

  The present invention relates to a machine for wetting a lid to be fixed on a base, filled for example with a

pharmaceutical product.

  As is known, commercial groups of machines are commonly used which separate a lid from its base, introduce into the interior of the base a metered quantity of one or more products, and close the lid on the corresponding base. . The cover is force-fitted to its base to close it by appropriate predetermination of the inside diameter of the lid and the diameter

outside the base.

  These groups of machines further comprise a machine which, after separating the lid from its base, retains the cover until the corresponding base has moved, for example on a conveyor belt, in front of all the machines in the group. Then, the lid is brought to a closing machine which closes the lid on the corresponding base, in the same angular position

  relative that these elements had before their separation.

  The groups of machines described above are expensive, above all because of the large number of machines necessary for the orientation and separation of the lid of its base and to ensure the closure of the lid on the corresponding base. In addition, the commonly used materials for the cover and for the base, which do not support force adjustment closure, become more widespread. The object of the present invention is to provide a machine for wetting a lid to be fixed on a base, filled

  for example a pharmaceutical product, machine that is.

reduced production cost.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a machine for wetting a cover to be fixed on a base, filled for example with a pharmaceutical product, characterized in that it comprises first means rotating about an axis of the machine and serving removing the lid la from a feed outlet of a hopper and second means for wetting an edge of the lid carried by the first means, with a liquid which allows the closure

waterproof cover on the base.

  The invention will be better understood on reading a description

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the accompanying drawing, in which: FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a machine according to the principles of the present invention; - Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a sectional view and a side view of a detail of the machine of Figure i; and

  FIGS. 4 and 5 are views which illustrate the differences

  operating phases of the detail of Figure 2.

  As seen in Figure 1, a machine for wetting

  a lid 2 to be sealed to a base 3

  For example, a pharmaceutical product is identified as a whole in I. The machine 1 is part of a group of machines, comprising a machine for bringing bases 3 and one or more filling machines. The group is traversed by a conveyor belt of known type, having a multiplicity of cells 4 in which the sealing of the lids 2 is carried out on the respective bases 3. The machine 1 comprises a hopper (not represented by the fact that it is of a known type) fed with covers 2 and equipped with a known device for orienting the covers 2, and a multiplicity of devices 5 for removing a respective cover 2 from an outlet opening 9 of the hopper for transporting it to a respective wetting device 6, and then to bring it into the interior of one of the cells 4 to fix it tightly on

one of the bases 3.

  The machine 1 comprises a hollow rotating shaft 7 which carries at its lower end a toothed wheel 8 meshing with another toothed wheel 11 mounted on an output shaft 12 of an electric motor 13. Because the machine 1 is part of a group of machines in each of which there are rotating elements, the rotation of the shaft 7 may, alternatively, be performed by an electric motor responsible, by the inside of gears or reduction pulleys, the rotation of all rotating elements

  present in the group. It is also possible that

  some rotating parts of the machines of the group are toothed so as to mesh with each other, so that a rotating part of a machine connected to an electric motor can drive all the rotating parts of the other machines of the group. The shaft 7 has its vertical longitudinal axis and this axis constitutes the axis of

the machine.

  A rotating disk 14 is fixed coaxially on the upper end of the shaft 7; a rotating annular element is fixed, coaxially, along the peripheral edge of the disc 14 and the outer lateral surface of this annular element 15 is formed in a known manner to cooperate with said conveyor belt. A rotating disc 16 is fixed coaxially above the element 15 and to the latter and it supports and therefore rotates the multiplicity

  devices 5 and 6, whose numbers are equal; -

  therefore, each device 5 has an associated device 6. The disk 16 has the shape of a section and thus has a flat portion 17 parallel to the disk 14 and a frustoconical portion 18. A multiplicity of radial holes 21 is formed in the flat portion 17 and the lower side of each hole communicates, by means of elements which will be described below and in a manner which will also be described below, with

  the tubular end portion 22 of a vacuum installation

  air ration. Each radial hole 21 communicates by means of a respective conduit 23 with an inner part of a corresponding device 5. The frustoconical portion 18 supports the devices 5 by means of a multiplicity of forks so that, in use, these are driven in rotation by the portion 18 and at the same time, they rotate around the pivot axis with the fork under the action of an element which will be described below. The portion 18 has, in its upper part, a multiplicity of radial through holes 24 whose longitudinal axes are horizontal, and in particular radial with respect to the axis of

  the rotating shaft 7. The devices 6 are respectively housed

in the holes 24.

  Referring to FIG. 1, it can be seen that inside the rotating shaft 7, with the interposition of two thrust bearings 25, is mounted a fixed shaft 26 which extends upwards beyond the upper end of the shaft 7 and which supports, in a manner not shown, said

  hopper and all the fixed parts which will be described below.

  after. At the same level as the element 15, the element 16 coaxially supports a fixed disc 27 on the upper face of which is formed, in correspondence with the lower opening of the holes 21, an upwardly open groove 28, of the

  lower part of which extends a horizontal radial hole

  zontal 31 which puts the groove 28 and, consequently, the holes 21 facing the latter, in communication with the tube 22 which is mounted on the disc 27 in corresponding manner.

  with the inner end of hole 31. In

  as also in Figures 4 and 5, it should be noted that the groove 28 has a longitudinal axis which describes a wide arc of a circle coaxial with the shaft 7 so that a good part

  holes 21 is in communication with the suction system.

  tion. A plate 32 extends coaxially from the shaft 26, above the disk 27 and parallel to it, and an annular body 33 is formed along the peripheral edge of the

  plate 32; as will be seen better below, this annular body

  Fig. 33 supports a series of cams responsible for rotating the devices 5 around their pivot axes.

with the respective forks.

  Referring to the accompanying drawing, each device 5 comprises a piston 35 sliding axially inside a cylinder

  hollow 36 which pivots on two arms 37 of a respective fork.

  In particular, two coaxial cylindrical bosses 38 and

  41 extend radially outwardly of the cylinder 36.

  The boss 38 is solid, while the boss 41 is pierced

  axially; one end of the conduit 23 is fixed on the former

  tremité of the boss. The bosses 38 and 41 rest, with the interposition of a respective bearing 42, inside a respective hole 43 formed in the arms 37 of the corresponding support fork. As a result, the cylinder 36 can pivot, also driving the piston 35 to pivot, around

  - The axis of the bosses 38 and 41. The piston 35 comprises, succes-

  endlessly, a head 44 suitably formed to cooperate with cams carried and defined inside the body 33, an annular groove 45, a solid portion 46, part of which remains inside the cylinder 36 with the interposition of a sleeve 47 (FIG. 2), a central portion 48 of small diameter extending longitudinally and having a diametrical through hole 51, and a portion 52 having an axial through hole 53 which extends inside the cylinder 36 from the hole 51 with interposition of a second sleeve 47. The head 44, the groove 45 and a part

  of the portion 46 are outside the cylinder 36.

  The hole 51 is at the same level as the inner hole of the boss 41 and, because of the diametrical dimensions of the portion 48, is capable of putting the conduit 23 in pneumatic communication with the hole 53 of the portion 52, whose free end has a shape suitable for defining a seat 54 for

receive a lid 2.

  As seen in the accompanying drawing, each device 6 comprises a hollow cylinder 55 inside which is mounted freely a rotating spindle 57, with the interposition of two bearings 56; one end of the rotating spindle 57, which projects from the cylinder 55, coaxially supports a cylindrical body 58 at the free end of which is formed an annular groove 61. The cylinder 55 is stationary, in that it is rigidly housed at its end. inside one of the holes 24 and has a radial through hole 62 coaxial with a through hole 63 formed in the free end of the portion 18. The machine 1 comprises a fixed column 64 whose top supports a plate 65 which, plan view, is a circle sector and which has, along a portion of its lower face disposed above the free end of the portion 18, a groove 66 open downwards and which communicates, because of it is in front of the hole 63, with the internal space inside the device 6 defined between the inner part of the cylinder and the shaft 57. A radial hole 67, starting from the groove 66, is formed in the plate 65 and has an opening for receiving the end of a duct 68 which starts from a rc

  compressed air 71 schematically illustrated in Figure 1.

  Referring to Figure 1, the machine 1 comprises a fixed body 72 whose longitudinal axis describes an arc of a circle coaxial with the shaft 7 and which has the shape of a C in cross section. In use, the cylindrical body 58 which, as indicated, has a horizontal axis passes, during its rotation about the axis of the shaft 7, through the interior of the body 72 whose top supports a vertical rod 73,

  inside which is housed a needle 74 cons-

  particularly able to receive, via a dosing pump 75 mounted above, a liquid which will be described below and able to leave drops of this liquid

  fall inside the body 72 on the body 58 in corres-

  coping with the annular groove 61.

  The annular body 33 is formed integrally with the plate 32 and supports a series of cams shown on

  Figure 1, which does not respect their relative positions

  tives, but so as to favor, according to also Figures 4 and 5, the understanding of the pivoting performed by the devices 5 around their respective pivot axes with the forks. The outer side wall of the body 33 has a corresponding annular groove

  with which all devices are arranged.

  correspondance with this groove in the body 33, are formed recesses for fixedly housing the cams which will be

described below.

  In the right-hand part of FIG. 5, a device is seen in a vertical position, with the head 44 at the bottom and inside a cam 81 which is rectilinear while developing in plan. The cam 41 is secured (Figure 1) of the lower part of the body 33. In this position, the seat 54 is vis-à-vis the opening 9 of the hopper. Drug

  81, as well as all the other cams that will be

  hereinafter described, has a slot in which the head 44 of the piston 35 can penetrate. The disc 16 drives the device in rotation around the axis of the machine and, during its passage along the cam 81, the device 5 collects a lid 2. This latter is already oriented inside the opening 9 of the hopper, as can be seen in the figure

  1, that is with its concavity looking upward.

  When the device 5 passes under the opening 9 of the hopper, the cover 2 is sucked towards the seat 54 and is held there, because the hole 53 which opens in the seat 54 is in depression due to its pneumatic connection. to the suction system. At the end of the cam 81 (FIG. 4), the device 5 moves from a vertical position to a

  horizontal position with the seat 54 facing out-

  laughing. The pivoting 90 of the device 5 around the axis of the bosses 38 and 41 is imposed by the cooperation in the groove 45 of the piston 35 of two strands 82 having a simple twist. The two ends of the strands 82 are fixed, for example by welding, to a respective fitting 83, one being fixed on the body 33 at the outlet of the cam 81, the second being fixed to the body 33 at the inlet of a cam 84 (Figure 1) fixed at the center of its groove, the body 33. The angular separation between the two fittings 83 is substantially 45 so that, based on this angular separation and because of the torsion between the strands 82, there is a 90 pivoting of the device around the axis of the bosses 38 and 41. The fittings 83, as well as those which will be described below, have the shape of a C of The ends of the strands 82 are welded to the ends of the arms of the fittings 83 so that, when a head 44 reaches the fitting 83, the groove 45 of the piston

  is grasped by opposite parts of the strands 82.

  When the horizontal position has been reached, the device is maintained in this position by the cooperation of

  the head 44 of the piston 35 with the cam 84 which is recti-

  line in development frontal plan, while in plan, it has a curvilinear profile, so as to cause a translation of the piston 35 along the cylinder 36. On the first portion of the cam 84, the piston 35 has the seat 54 project out of the cylinder 36, while on the second part the piston

  retracts until it has resumed its original position

  tial. During this temporary projection out of the seat 54, the cover 2, or rather its thinner inner edge 86, engages (FIGS. 2 and 3) with the end of the cylinder 58, which rotates around the shaft 7 in phase with the corresponding device 5. Before this engagement, the annular groove 61 has already received droplets of

  liquid from the needle 74. In addition, the

  Figure 6 passes below the plate 65, so that the compressed air from the source 71 arrives inside the device 6, which causes the spindle 57 to rotate.

  and consequently that of the cylinder 58. This rotation

  it is a uniform distribution of the liquid around the groove 61 and the evacuation of the excess liquid towards the bottom of the body 72 o, by means of a conduit 87, it is evacuated and sent by known means in the direction of a tank, not shown for clarity. The coming

  in engagement with the edge 86 of the lid 2 with the end of the cy-

  lindre 58 causes humidification of this edge.

  At the end of the cam 84, a rotation of 90 is applied to the device 5 so as to bring it to a vertical position

  with seat 54 looking down. This rotation pro-

  comes from the cooperation of two other strands 88 with the groove 45 of the piston 35, the strands 88 being supported by two fittings 91, one fixed on the body 33 at the end of the cam 84, and the other fixed on the body 33 at the beginning of a cam 92, fixed on an upper part of the body 33. In this case also, because

  the strands 88 have a simple twist and the fact that the

  angular ratio between the fittings 91 is 45, a rotation

  90 of the device 5 is performed around the axis of the

  bosses 38 and 41. The cam 92 is curvilinear in development.

  flat frontal development so as to cause a translation of the piston 35 along the cylinder 36 in a manner similar to that caused by the cam 84; but in this case, the translation takes place in a vertical plane. Consequently, the cover 2 is located outside the cylinder 36 inside a cell 4 in which is housed a base 3, with its thinner edge 93 oriented so as to be received inside the edge 86 of the lid 2. In correspondence with the maximum extension of the piston towards the outside of the cylinder 36, the suction is removed from the inside of the cylinder and, consequently, the lid 2 remains in the interior of the cell 4, sealingly attached to the base 3. The lid 2 and the base 3 are made of amide and the liquid is based on alcohol and water so that as soon as the wet edge 86 of the lid 2 engages with the edge 93 of the base 3, the amide is wet and, as a result, the edges 86 and 93 are melted and consequently, a perfect sealing is obtained between the lid 2 and the base 3 . As

  as shown in Figure 5, the suction is removed in the

  the inside of the piston 35 when the groove 28 ends, that is,

  that is, when the hole 21 corresponding to the piston 35 has its lower opening closed and is no longer, therefore, in communication with the suction system. Then, the conveyor belt conveys the capsule thus formed towards a machine which expels it from the cell 4

  and sends it to a packing machine.

  From the vertical position in which the seat 54 looks downwards, the device 5 is rotated 180 about the axis of the bosses 38 and 41, that is to say that it is returned to a vertical position with the seat 54 looking up. This rotation is imposed on the device 5 by the two strands 94 which cooperate with the groove 45 of the piston 35. The strands 94 have a double twist and are fixed at their ends to two fittings 95 similar to the fittings 91. A fitting 95 is fixed on the body 33 at the end of the cam 92, while the second is fixed

  on the body 33 at the beginning of the cam 81. The separator

  The angular ratio between the fittings 95 is substantially 90, so that, due to the double twist of the strands 94, this results in a 180 rotation of the device 5 around the bosses 38 and 41. In correspondence with the cam 81, the hole 21 is in depression through the groove

  28. In its rotation around the axis of the machine, the

  positive 5 can, therefore, trigger a new cycle

working.

  The foregoing description shows many advantages

  obtained with the embodiment of the present invention.

  In particular, the orientation of the lids 2, the humidification

  cation thereof and their tight closure on the bases 3 are obtained in a single machine. With the machine 1,

  it is therefore useless to have a machine that separates a

  its base, because the covers and bases are brought separately to the machine group. This results in a significantly lower cost for the group, and this facilitates operations in that it is no longer necessary to close the

  base with the lid from which it was previously separated.

  It is also possible to use lids and

  bases, even if their edges are not perfectly complete

  These edges are then melted together by the humidification. With the machine 1, it is further possible to use an amide for the production of the covers 2 and bases 3, which was impossible with the current machines that caused a closure by tight fit. Finally, it is clear that the machine 1 described and illustrated above can receive modifications and variants,

  without thereby departing from the scope of this

  vention. In particular, the plate 65 can be more or less extended depending on the period that is planned to maintain

  pin 57 and, accordingly, the cylinder 58 rotating.

  In fact, it is possible to keep the spindle 57 rotating

  tion, only when the cylinder 58 passes through the body 72, ie when the groove 61 receives the liquid droplets from the needle 74, or it is otherwise possible to keep the spindle 57 rotated also during the humidification of the edge 86 of the cover 2. It is further possible that the device 6 is arranged in a position

  different from that shown, that is to say horizontal.

  By modifying the disc 16, it is possible to arrange the device 6 in the vertical position to wet the cover 2 when the device 5 is in a vertical position, only by means of a cam similar to the cam 92. In addition, the device 5 may have a shape different from that shown, while retaining the principle of removing the lid 2 from the opening 9, then transporting the lid 2 in a position vis-à-vis the device 6, and finally transport the same cover 2 to fix it tightly on a base 3. In place of the conveyor belt, the base 3 can be retained along the outer wall of a rotating part of the machine 1 by a suction opening susceptible to take this base 3 in a feed machine and able to release the base 3 already sealingly attached to the lid 2 in a packaging machine. It is also possible that the sealing is effected in a machine adjacent to the machine 1. In fact, if the cover 2 already wet is brought by the device 5 to a suction opening formed on a rotating part of the machine 1, this opening can then bring the lid already wet

  2 to a subsequent machine in which the iron

  sealed. The number of devices 5 can be chosen according to the diametral dimensions of the machine 1 or on the basis of a predetermined production rate. In any case, each device 5 is associated with a device 6 and a hole 21. It is obvious that the machine can also be used to seal lids.

  and bases filled with products other than phar-

  maceutiques and materials different from the amide, everything

  using an edible sealable liquid.

Claims (14)

claims   1. - Machine for wetting a lid (2) to be fixed on a base (3) filled for example with a pharmaceutical product, characterized in that it comprises first means (5) rotating about an axis of the machine and for taking out the lid (2) from an opening (9) in a feed hopper, and second means (6) for wetting an edge (86) of the lid (2) carried by the first means (5). ) with a liquid which makes it possible to fix in a sealed manner the cover (2) on the base (3).   2. - Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that   that the first means include a multiplicity of   first devices (5) carried by a first disk (16) rotating about the axis of the machine and driven in rotation by the cooperation of cams carried by a fixed body (33) about a respective transverse axis; and in that the second means comprise a plurality of second devices (6) carried by the first disk (16) and whose number is equal to that of the first devices (5), so that each of these first devices   has a respective second associated device (6).   3. - Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that each of the second devices comprise a rotating spindle (57) mounted freely inside a cylinder   hollow (55) carried by the first disk (16) and whose inte-   is in communication with a source of compressed air (71) which causes rotation of the spindle (57), one end (58) of which projects from the cylinder (55) and has an annular groove (61) in which the liquid is brought and which, in an operative position, is disposed inside the lid (2) to wet the edge (86) with said liquid.   4. - Machine according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a first fixed plate (65) which, in plan, defines a circular sector coaxial with the first disk (16) and which, inside, comprises a conduit (66, 67) for communicating the source of compressed air (71) with the interior of the cylinder (55) by means of two coaxial holes (62, 63) formed respectively in the cylinder (55) and along a portion (18) of the first disc (16) facing the ducts (66, 67) and in which is formed   O a seat (24) for the second device (6).   5. - Machine according to claim 4, characterized in that   that the longitudinal axis of the spindle (57) is horizontal.   6. - Machine according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a second fixed plate (72) whose longitudinal axis described in plan, an arc of a circle coaxial with the first disk (16), and which has substantially the shape of a C, such that its interior can be traversed, during the rotation about the axis of the machine, by the ends (58) of the pins (57), this second plate (72) supporting a needle of a feeder (74) which receives the liquid from a metering pump (75) and which can drop from its end droplets of this liquid inside the second plate (72) on the end (58) of the spindle   (57) in correspondence with the annular groove (61).   7. - Machine according to any one of the preceding claims   cedentes, characterized in that each of the first   sitifs comprises a sleeve (36) rotating about its transverse axis by which it can pivot on two arms (37) of a fork secured to the first disk (16), a piston (35) being housed inside the sleeve ( 36) and being able to slide there axially by the cooperation of its head (44) with the cams carried by the first fixed body (33), the piston (35) having at its axial end opposite to that o is formed the head (44). ), a seat (54) for receiving the lid (2).   8. - Machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the piston (35) has an end portion (52) in which is formed an axial hole (53) which opens in the seat (54) to receive the cover ( 2) and which is in pneumatic communication with an air suction system (22) which makes it possible to suck the cover (2) from the opening (9) of the hopper and which makes it possible to retain it in the seat ( 54) piston (35).   9. - Machine according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a rotating shaft (7) whose longitudinal axis is the axis of the machine, and which is fixed on the first disk (16) in which is formed a multiplicity of radial holes (21) each of which is in constant pneumatic communication, by means of a respective pipe (23), with the axial hole (53) of a corresponding piston (35) and each of which, at each rotation of the first disk (16), enters into pneumatic communication with the suction system (22) for a limited period corresponding to the extraction of the lid (2) from the opening (9) and its retention in the seat   (54) of the piston (35) for the purpose of performing its humidification.   cation. 10. - Machine according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a fixed shaft (26), mounted coaxially inside the rotating shaft (7) and having a portion   superior to the outside of the latter, which supports coaxial   a second fixed disc (27) inside which is formed a conduit (28,31) capable of setting the holes   radials (21) of the first disk (16) in pneumatic communication   with the air suction system for a limited period, the upper portion of the fixed shaft (26) supporting   coaxially the fixed body (33) which has an annular shape.   11. - Machine according to claim 10, dependent on claim 5, characterized in that the first fixed body (33) supports: - a first cam (81) engageable with the head (44) of the piston (35) to maintain the latter in a vertical position with the seat (54) of this piston (35) looking upwards, that is to say in the direction of the opening (9) whose cover (2) is sucked into the seat (54); a first element (82) serving to cause the rotation   90 of the first device (5) around its pivot axis   with the associated fork so as to present the   seat (54) of the piston (35) looking radially outwards   laughing; a second cam (84) for holding the first device (5) in a horizontal position on a predetermined section and for controlling a temporary projection of the seat (54) of this piston (35) out of the sleeve (36), such that the end (58) of the rotating spindle (57) is inside the lid (2) to wet the edge (86); a second element (88) for causing a rotation of 90 of said first device (5) about its pivot axis with the fork so as to present the piston (35) in a vertical position with its seat (54) looking down; a third cam (92) for holding the first device (5) in a vertical position on a predetermined section and for controlling a temporary projection out of the sleeve (36) of the seat (54) of the piston (35) so that the lid (2) is received in a cell (4) of a conveyor belt inside which the base (3) is already housed, in which the lid (2) is sealingly attached to the base (3). ) and is at the same time released from the device (5) due to the temporary interruption of the pneumatic communication between the suction system (22) and the axial hole (53) of the piston (35); and - a third member (94) for causing a rotation   180 of the first device (5) around its pivot axis.   with the fork so as to present the piston (35) in a vertical position with its seat (54) facing upwards to trigger a new extraction of the cover (2).   12. - Machine according to claim 11, characterized in that these elements are respective pairs of strands (82,88 and 94) for cooperating with a groove (45) formed on the piston (35) in the immediate vicinity of the head (44), each pair of strands (82,88 and 94) being supported at its ends by two fittings (83,91 and 95), carried by the fixed body (33) and angularly separated respectively by 45, 45 and 90, the strands (82,88) of the first and second members having a single twist and the strands (94) of the third member having a double twist. 13. - Machine according to claim 11 and / or claim 12, characterized in that the rotating shaft (7) is fixed on a coaxial annular element (25) whose outer lateral surface is formed so as to cooperate with the conveyor belt.   14. - Machine according to at least one of the preceding claims   dentes, characterized in that the cover (2) has an edge.   (86) of reduced thickness on the inside and that the base (3) has an edge (93) of reduced thickness on the outside, the lid (2) and the base (3) being in amide and the liquid being based on alcohol and water.